Evening Star Newspaper, March 16, 1924, Page 61

AMUSEMENTS. News andComment By W. H. Landvoigt. HAT a time the movies are having! There is no doubt they are itrying to climb into something better, but there is an uncer- tainty in the way they do it which must be painful to those - _¥most deeply interested. For some time there was a storm of mand for better pictures, which the producers stretched into an inter- pretation for better and bigger pictures. Accordingly they began to re- organize and get ready for bigger pictures, and here they struck a snag. ‘The public demand was for better pictures. The response with bigger und more costly pictures did not meet the demand. Washington has re- . THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, MARCH cently had an illustration in the case of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” | which was shown here originally at the $2 scale of admission prices. It was then set forth very plainly that the public need not expect to see the picture at less than that scale, at least until after the year 1924. Thanks to the enterprise of Harry M. Crandall, the picture was brought back at the #ifty-five-cent scale, and a long stretch of capacity audiences at the Metro- politan Theater indicated the demand for it at that rate. There might be ed other illustrations of the public's disapprova. of the attempt to jorce a popular entertainment into the ranks of costly entertanment. ; Rut still the producers go on making bigger pictures which are likely to prove a losing investment unless the two-dollar scale of prices can be ohtained for them. It is amusing to note how the producer apparently is applying the forcing process. * % k¥ HE lutest news from Hollywood reports the conclusion there that “the costume play is dead” Also that “it is too soon for war films and “at jazz and bootlegging, divorcees and motor cars will be the main jrops in movie circles until the belief becomes current, as it did a few vears ago, that ‘society stuff’ is dead alsi Assuming that the bewilder- ment at Hollywood is due to an honest doubt as to the best course for | the future, the inference is natural that what is needed in movie produc- tion now is brains quite as much as morals. 1t has been evident for a ‘ong time that the director has been the dominating force in picture pro- duction. But it is equaly true that “box-office influtnce” has played icks with directors and authers, and that there have been some unpleas- ant public utterances by the latter because of it. The “latest news" seems strongly to indicate that art and commerce in the photoplay world should try to get together with the object of having picture production directed by intelligence that can comprchend the nceds of both. There have been jar too many mediocre pictures shown in recent mouths to encourage ¢ tion that photoplay production is sincerely climbing toward the licights that are accessible to it with honest endeavor for a boost. - - 5 * * * . URTHERMORE s likely to pe a rather tough job to attempt to force the pub'ic against its manifest inclinations. Producers may zrind out “socicty stuff” to utilize “gorgeous costumes” they may have on fand; th «1 wickedness, for box-office purposes, or they may run again 2 line of pictures that were popular in the past in which automobiles, or boot- ieggers, or crooks of the underworld were outstanding features, and they may get by with it. But as surely as they do, they will find the censor- ship problem again rising to taunt them, or they will find it not so easy to fool their public, and that the exhibitor will have something to say about the lack of attendance at the movie playhouse. 5 Y * kK ¥ HARLIE CHAPLIN, doubtless moved will be good for what ails the mo: voman, Her name is Lita Gray, and report says she is a descendant of an aristocratic old Spanish family of California, “gorgeously beautiful” a brunette with ivory skin and red lips. Charlie says he has discovered also that she has the power of rare dramatic expression. AL of which ough: > help boost the curiosity to see the next Chaplin picture in which she app ars. v the belici that “new fac * %k % X OUR old friend Bill Hart, the famous western character actor, who was only recently welcomed with open arms and joyous acclaim into the Paramount fold, has made two Famous Players pictures, “Wild Bill ! Hickok” and “Singer Jim McKee"—and quit. not agree. He and Jesse L. Lasky did * ¥ * * % T wil: be somewhat of a surprise to her wide host of admirers to learn that Famous Players will shortly elevate Bebe Danicls to “stardom,” and will bill her accordingly in all advertising matter used in connection may vary the clothes show with the introduction of a tinge | has gotten a new leading | BARBARA. LAMARR. Columbia o G, BLANCHE SWEET Tincolw MAY MCAVOY Crandalls VAUDEVILLE has come to mean al- most anvthing and everything that can be presentcd upon the the- atrical stage. Its range reaches from | grand opera to low comedy, from the spectacular to the acrobatic, and many of its acts are the offerings of | a single person, with a “company who plays the accompaniments, or | who merely acts as a valet or waits | with her pictures. Film Daily is authority for the announcement. * k ok * A N effort is being made to enact a law in New York, app'icable to the entire state, which will allow each community to decide for ‘itself whether or not juveniles between eight and sixteen years of age shall be admitted to the theater when not accompanied by parents or guardians. The motion picture theater owners are said to be supporting the measure. * ko kx % T'HE next picture to be made by Victor Seastrom will be “The Tree in the Garden,” by Edward C. Booth. The Swedish director a'ready has made an impression with his ability. * k ok k MAYBE and maybe not, Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplin pictures will soon be advertised as Paramount productions. There is said to be much talk along this line out Los Angeles way. * ¥ %k % ERBERT BRENON, who won his first fame for his Annette Keller- mann picture, “Daughter of the Gods,” and who has had a chance to try his skill with Pola Negri, is to direct Thomas Meighan in “The Alaskan.” * % ¥ X . ATHE is to release, April 6, a three-reel novelty, “Birds of Passage,” which will picture the annual migration of birds from northern climes to the Nile. * % % % N Ohio retail clothiers’ association has voted Ramon Novarro “the best dressed man in the movies.” Looks like a wicked defii. Hasn’t Rodolph Valentino just been shrived and readmitted to the graces of the movi * ok k X BRIEF note from Mr. Thomas W. Gilmer, a dyed-in-the-wool picture { fan, expresscs agreement with this column ahout misleading and senseless titles that are given {o some photoplays. They are getting more | numerous, more's the pity. K * %k ¥ X &5 HE‘ 'I(;H'Il-i OF BAGDAD.” Douglas Fairbanks’ latest picture, is) schednled to open this week in New York at §2 it is- It wi'l be sho\\“‘n at the Likerty Theater. Sepipsseiotiadmia | o * % % % **PPHE COVERED WAGON” combleted a year’s run at the Criterion | Theater. in New York, last week The event was “celebrated.” * ¥ % % ARY PHILBT;‘I. having completed “The Inheritors ” with King Bag-1 % ott as he- directar will heoin her next picture, “Mitzi.” with Irving Cummines wielding the meeanhone. Photoplays This V/eek‘ At the photop]ay Houses Tl’xis Weck sion. on_the only performer. But there is a vast clientele that craves vaudeville, hunts for it and eats it up when it is found. And so vaudeville, in the effort to cater to this demand. has widened its domain, until now nearly everything in the way of theatrical entertainment, even the circus, may be found at one time or another in the vaudeville program. At the beginning of the t | season, when the Cosmos Theater | was reaching out for grea prids | Columbia—"Thy Name Is Woman."” At Doew’s Columbia this afterncon the new Fred Niblo production for Metro, “Thy Name Is Woman,” will be offered as this week's attraction The cast selected by Director Fred Niblo for this love story of old Spain is headed by Ramon Novarro, remem- bered for his performance in “Scara mouche.” and includes Barbara Lo Marr, William V. Mong. Robert Ede- son, Wal'ace MacDonald, Edith Rob- erts and Claire MacDowell. “Thy Name 1s Woman" is the screen version of another Broadway play, by Karl Schoenherr, in which Mary e R and which ; at the suggestions « commandant rs_into a plan to infatuate the wife of Pedro the Fi muggler, in order to The young soldier love with her, how- crippled old smuggler falls madly in ever, and the takes a hand in the game just as the | couple are about to elope. The supplementary features will in- clude only the Intornational News and orchestral embellishment Rialto—Elinor Glyn's ‘Three Weel{s.. Elinor Glyn's “Three Weeks" will be continued at Moore's Ria'to the cur- rent week. Greai crowds have wait- ed patiently in line the past week, waiting for a chance to view Gold- wyn's modern picture of the widely read book. Many have found it im- rossible to obtain admission, as a re- sult of which the management decided to extend the showing for a second and positively final week. A The novel, as many know, deals with the fervid love story of a young Englishman, Paul Verdayne, and the METROPOLITAN—Constance Talmadge, “The Dangerous Maid.” Shown this afternoon and evening. PALACE—‘Women Who Give.” Shown this afternoon and evening. COLUMBIA—"“Thy Name Is Woman.” Shown this afternoon and evening RIALTO—Elinor G'yn’s “Threc Weeks.” this afternoon and evening. AMBASSADOR—Constance Talmadge, Shown this afternoon and evening. CENTRAL—"After the Ball” Shown this afternoon and evening. CRANDALL'S—W. S. Hart, in “White Oak.” Shown this afternoon and evening. LINCOLN (Celored)—Blanche Sweet, “Anna Christie.” Shown this aiternoon and evening. Metropolitan — “The Dan-|Palace—"Women Who Give' gerous Maid.” This afternoon Reginald PBarker's ~anstance Talmadge will be pic- |13test Production for Metro, “Women % ‘Who Give,” a thriling and romanti tured at Crandall's Metropolitan The- & ator this wosi Besinning this aftero | it ras, New. Eagland cosst, ‘witl be shown at Loew's Palace. If is a noon, in “The Damgerous Maid,” her screen version of Sarah b MeLean most pretentious production, together | Sree o s SIoTY, “Cape Cod Folks.” " Its with the new two-reel comedy, “One cast includes Barbara Bedford in the tiile role, with Robert Frazer oppo- Night It Rained, featuring Harry Tighe and Ned Sparks, and an elab- site, and Renee Adoree, Frank Kee- nan, Joseph Dowling. Margaret Sed- 3 don, Joan Standing, Victor Potel, Ed- srate orchestra program, includ'ng an | die Phillips and W lliam Eugene, overture comprising gems from “The Chimes of Normandy,” Paderewski's Minuet,” ‘the theme melody from Peopled with' pictures: ihe New England fisning indusey, 1t “Mignon™ and “Sweethearts’ Lan “The Dangerous Maid,” while en- is the story of a love affair between a young fishing captain and the daugh- ter of a shore packing magnate, who are brought together when the young livened by & veln of delighttul | AR Serves a warning on the mag- comedy, 1s essentially a romantic drama. Constance Talmadge appears first as a beautiful young woman who feels it necessary later to don a male nate that rather than accept the lat- ter’s prices for their catch he will warb and with & sword and a supply uf kisses to bring consternation and dump the fish overboard. Comp'ica- tions arise when a lighthouse keep- defeat to the armed forces of the king. The production_is executed on er's daughter is found-in the vessel ‘mammoth scale, and the photog- of the young captain and the refusal of ‘the magnate's daughter to listen to an explanation until the young captain effects a gallant rescue from drowning of the girl's brother. This bhy is said to be extremely artistic. | rescue is a thrilling_episode. - _Conway Tearle, Morgan Wallace, Charjes Gerrard, Marjor:e Daw, Kate Erice, Tully Marshall, Thomas Rick- Stte, “Ann-May and Lincoln Plummer | musie by ti isake up the cast, < ‘atiructions (Second Week.) Shown “The Dangerous Maid.” One ~of Lyman Howe's “Hodge- Podge” numbers, Aesop's Fables, Pathe News, Topics of the Day and orchestra will be alded P Queen of Sardalia, of whose identity he iz ignorant, and who had been estranged from the king by his dis- | solute behavior and his cruelty to-| ward his subjects. It was directed by Alan Crosland, and in the role of the queen Aileen Pringle has given acting of high abil- ty. The young Englishman is play- d by Conrad Nagel. Hal Roach’'s “Our Gang” comedy, “Sunday Calm,” and the Rialto Maga- z'ne are added attractions. The or- chestra_ will accompany the picture at all matinee and night showings. Ambassador—"The Danger- ous Maid." Constance Talmadge's newest pic- ture, “The Dangerous Maid,” will be shown the first three days of this week at Crandall's Ambassador Thea- ter also, together with Aesop fable, “From Rags to Riches and Back Again,” and the Pathe News, with orchestra music, including a_prelude from Reginald De Koven's “The Red Feather,” Wednesday and Thursday- Gloria Swanson as a young Apache will be seen in her strongest charac terization in “The Humming Bird, together with Charlie Chase, in “Don't Forget” and with Massenet's “Manon” as the orchestral overture. Friday and Saturday, Douglas McLean in the amusing screen version of “Go- ing Up with Marjorle Daw, and “Over the Fence,” a comedy. with overture selections from Hirsch’s musical comedy, “Going Up,” and short reels. Central—"After the Ball.” The first four days of this week ‘at Crandall’s Central Theater, beginning this afternoon, “After the Ball” a romantfc melodrama, based, on the famous song hit of 1893 by Charies K. Harris, with a cast including Miri- am Cooper, Gaston Glass, Edna Mur- phy :and_TRobert Fraszier, will be shown. The story deals with -the question of whether a prison record 15 a bar to happy marrlage. “Horse- shoasy the Cosmos Photoplays. mection for i nley Com- deals only to conquer, it formed a_ o with the Keith booking off audeville and with the S any of America, which with the fi photoplays, first-run comedies and short-pict subjects, for_its screen enter! Under this arran choicest of photoplays are heing pr. sented weekly in its vaudeville gram and without extra charge management believes the x public has overlooked this splendid feature of its bills and now s “point- ing with pride” to the fact that its vhotoplays are of the latest releases, with the Kreatest screen stars and of the finest guality suoplied by the films. “Pled Piper Malone” and “The Humming Bird" are pointed to as re- cent offerings, and this week Leah Baird will be seen at the Cosn in her latest big picture, “The Destroy- ing Angel” which is quite new to Washington the very Kinograms and pipe organ music will | be added attractions, { Thursday, Frida Saturday | Fred Thomson, Hazel Swickard, Talor Graves Lucas and Chester Conkl seen in “North of Nevada,” melodrama, in which climaxes pur- sue each other other with amazing ity. Flying Finance,” a com- featuring Neely Edward and Mack Swain, with short reels and sipe organ music, will be added at- tractions. Crandall's—W. S. Hart in . “"White Oak.” William . Hart, foremost delincator | of rygged western types, will be pic- | tured the first three days of this week | at Crandall's Theater in “White Ouak he ed"; Wednesday leen Moore, in “Through the Da melodramatic romance in whic seminary implicated with a band of crooks of which her brother is a leader, and Paul Terry, ‘Why Men Leave Home"; Glenn Hunter, orrence, George nd Riley Hatch, in the film version of Homer Croy story, “West of the Water Tower, with Cliff Bowes, in “Cave Inn.” Short reels and pipe organ music dded daily. Lincoln—Blanche Sweet in “Anna Christie.” “Anna Christie,” Thomas H. Ince" film version of the famous play by Eugene O'Neill, will be shown the first three days of this week at the Lincoln Theater, U street at 12th. The title role is played by Blanche Sweel and the cast includes George Marion and William Russell. The comed) will picture Neal Burns, in “Foo. Proof.” Wednesday and Thursday, Margourite Courtot, in “The Steadfast Heart,” and Dorothy De Vore and Babe London, in Christie’s two-reel comedy, “Kidding Katie"; Friday and Saturday, Colleen Moore, 'in “Through the Dark,” the story of a seminary girl who' brought regeneration to a, band of crooks of which her owp| family had formed a part unknowh: to her, together with “Paris Lights,” starring C.iff Bowes:; short reels and special music arranged by Louls M.| i Brown. Avenue Grand Specials. | 'RANDALL'S Avenue Grand The-l ter announces two costly added attractions for the current week. To- day at the 5, 7 and 9 o'clock perform- ances and tomorrow at 7:30 and 9:30, | a musical treat is promised by Ger- ald Cook’s Oriole Society Orchestra com- posed of eight syncopators who will play the current dance and song hits. Thursday, at 7:50 and 9:35. p.m. a gifted violinist, Miss Sweeney, will be heard in a miniature recital with pipe organ accompaniment. These added offerings will be made without increases in prices. Apollo. Today and tomorrow, Richard Bar- thelmess, in ‘“Twenty-One,” and Dorothy DeVore, in “Kidding Katie”; Tuesday and Wednesday, - Thomas Meighan, in “Pled Piper Malone,” and Dippy-Doo-Dad, “Love's Reward”; Tom Moore, in “Big and :Neal Burns, in “Fool ; Proof’; Friday, Frank Mayo, in ‘| “Wild Oranges,” and Clff Bowes, in “Heads Up”; Saturday, Strongheart, in “The Love Master,” and Spat Fam- ily, in “Let's Build.” Avenue Grand. Today and tomorrow, Thomas Meighan, in ‘Pied Piper Malone' Tuesday - and Wednesday, ~Richard Bartheimess, in “Twenty-One,” and Dorothy DeVore, in “Kidding Katie”; Thursday, Virginia Valli, in “Wild anges” and Dippy-Doo-Dad com- Tove's Reward”; Friday, J. (Continued-on Fourth Paged Or: edy, 16, MARgORIE DAW Atttbassador™ fig GASTON GLASS Next Week's Photoplays COLUM BIA—Gloria Swanson, in “A Socicty Scandal.” METROPOLITAX—"The Gal- loping Fish” (and Jan Gar- ber's Orchestra). RIALTO—"Daughters of To- day” (and the California Ramblers Orchestra). “The Fighting Cow- | | reen version of Booth | | s *“Magnolia.” AMBASSADOR—"The Gallop- " “Don’t Call It “The Temple of “Not Drum | | Old Fool” CRANDALL'S— of the Desert, Malone” and Message. he Heritage “Pied Piper “The ght 1924—PART 3. WeSLEY BARRY Strand | No “Tailored” Sandwiches RE arc ham dwiches and TH ham sandwiche » discovered the property man for orge Melford, while the latter wa directing “The Dawn of a Tomorro: A scene in the pieture required a veritable bundle of sandwiches to be ten in the att nt house. Jacqueline Logan, Ray iflith and Alma Bennett, in their characterizations, were supposed to be starving. On came the sandwiches, tasty, attractive things, with thin, waflerlike bread, minus crusts. “Wow ked Mr. Melford. “Where in the London slums ou suppose sandwiches would erved like that? Take ‘em ba Make each slice of bread at le an_jnch thick and leave the crusts on. Wrap them in newspaper, and take these cor- rectly tailored sandwic over to a drawing room sei R Stodiesilite i Court:.s ANTONIO MORENO studies i na school of life on two mornings of vach week in the criminal branch of the Los Angeles police court. ious cases which T hear s Moreno, “I see men and every conceivable mood. those who have stolen, d and even killed for love . for personal gain or even an_appetite for adventure ction. Each of these characters contributes something to my knowl- «dize of all ph of life which I can utilize on the n.” in tor A Quaint Biography, A NTON TCHEKHOFF, author of The Cherry Orchard,” is averse to talking about himself. On one or two oceasions, however, he violated his usual custom, and one of them is found in the course of a letter he wrote to a friend. This is what he said ou want my biography? Here it ts: T was born in Taganrog in 1860, I finished the course at Taganrog High School in 1879. In 1584 1 took my de- zree in medicine at the Universiy of Moscow. In 1588 1 gained the Pushkin p In 1890 I made a journey to Sakhalin, across Siberia, and ack by sea. In 1891 I made a'tour f Europe, where I drank excellent wine and ate oysters. In 1892 I took art in an orgy in the company of V. A. Tihonoff at a name-day party. I hegan writing in 1879. The pub- ished collections of my works are: Motley Tales' ‘In the Twilight, lat the age of thirteen. Surly People' and a novel, " sinned in tfe dramatic line, too, though with moderation. I have been translated into all the languages with the exception of the foreign ones, though I have indeed long ago been translated by the Germans. The Czechs and the Serbs approved of me also, and the French are not indif- ferent. “The mysteries of love I fathomed With my col- literary” men best of terms. 1 leagues, doctors and alike, 1'am on the am a bachelor. 1 should like to re- ceive a pension. I practice medicine, and so much so that sometimes in the summer I perform post-mortems, though I have not done so for two or three years. “Of authors, my favorite is Tolstoy; of doctors, Zanarin. A that is nonsense, though. Write What you like. If you haven't [ make up with lyricism.” New Art in Movies HENRY XING, the director respon- sible for “The White Sister,” feels that the motion picture industry is no longer an overgrown child with 2 tremendous body and a tiny head, but that the brain has been gradually nourished and that something vital and human has been put into the body of the movies. “It is no wonder,” says Mr. King, hat newspapers and magazines have overflowed with articles on ‘What's wrong with the movie There has been plenty to find fault with and plenty of reason why only 10 per cent of our population patronizes the mo- tion pictures. “The time has come, however, when the pietures will take their rightful place as an artistic entertainment de Mmanding serious cossideration. 'A ready the light is breaking, We have attained a technical perfection ex- traordinary even if it were not the product of a few short years. Our Viehting is in_many cases exquisite. Our photography is unrivaled. Our directing 1= genius. Of course, I am speaking of the best examples, be- cause, after all, we judge our progress in new fie'ds by our leaders. “True, we need actors, But I cannot help feeling that the potentialities are in the ones we have, providing we give them the material from which to draw some inspiration. The movie is reaching the point where the actor is called upon to do something more than just ‘register’ an emotion. It is necessary for him to feel the role he is acting, to know thoroughly the background of the story and of the character—in other words, to really Create the part. “The cost of the so-called super- picture has risen by leaps and bounds from a quarter of a million to a half, then to a million, a million and a half, and now we have the two-million mark. Directors and companles vie with one another in an unreasoning competition to see who can spend the most money. But more money does not mean better films. And producers are slowly awakening to that realiza- tion. It becomes increasingly diffi- cult to make the public give back the cost of these super-spectacles. The present stoppage of production by one concern is a silent admission of that “The crisis is here. And from it will emerge, not necessarily the bigger picture, but the better picture The true art of the motion picture Is the satisfied audience.” First White Monkey. AR KHAYAM, named after the author of the Rubaiyat, a snow- Wwhite Simian native of Borneo, about to take ship for New York, is said to be the first white monkey to adven- ture into the United States. Omar wil! travel as a first-class passenger, ac- companied by his own personal valet a Burmese resident of Rangoon, and they will ‘occupy a first-class cabin on the main dock by special arrange- ment with the East Indian line. America’s first white monkey, a perfect specimen of the rarest of the Simian tribe, was bought by Harry d. Mondorf, ‘European representativ of the B. F. Keith vaudeville circuit in.open competition with the Sultar of Jahore, a potentate of the Malay peninsula, whe maintains one of th finest private zoological collections in the world. In_his world search for noveltie Mr. Mondorf heard about Omar, the white monkey, while in Singapore an( doubled back over his_ltinerary tc Rangoon with a fixed determination to “get” the snowy Simian for Toy- town at the New York Hippodrome. , = Crandall's Exhibitors' Film Ex. change, under the management of Edwin_A. SI yopd, has moved “int. new officés on the oighth floor of the AMather-building. 29 f a London u-n»-l AMUSEMENTS. Tolly WOOd azz and Society Themes Due—Cyclops, Much-Pictured 3 Gossip Schooner, Sold—Lubitsch to Direct Pola Negri. BY HALLETT ABEND. LOS ANGELES, March 14.—Now that the flood of costume pictures !has almost exhausted itself the pub- lic, instead of having a diversity of film fare, will probably have forced upon it a great flood of “modern so- clety dramas” because & few smashing successes have been made by that kind of photoplays. Everywhere there is talk of costume stuff being dead and those who talk most say it is still too soon for war films, The wild and woolly westerns we have with us always and now and then we get a rural drama on the screen, but for the next few months most producers, unless all signs fail, will spend their energy and their | money producing photoplays peopled i with well dressed rich folks of to- | day. Jazz and bootlegging, diverce land motor cars—these will be main props until the belief gains credence, fas it did a few years ago. that “so- clety stuff is dead.” Then we shall have another change, , Cyclops Ix Sold. The Cyelops, famous 0ld three-mast ed schooner, which has been used in countless motion pictures, is at last to have a real adventure. She has been purchased by a company of adventurers and they will sail away in the old ship the first week in April, {ound for the coast of Siberia, on a | gold-hunting expedition. The vessel {18 now being reinforced to withstand the pressure of ice floes in the Arbtic. All the men will share alike in the !labor and profits. The soviet govern- jment nas granted a charter giving the {explorers full rights of settlementand of the profits. Two of the organizers were in the Siberian region several years ago on u geodetic surv The | distric is far north and is snow cov- icred for most of the vear. i Kenneth L. Robertx, magazine writer of fiction, is in Hoilywood ex- ploring the studios, meeting stars and and gathering material for Grticles and short stories. . begun the d'rec- ltion of 4 new series ol Andy Gump comedies at Univ al. Murphy and Fay Tincher will again play Andy and Min. Mr. Istories himself. Andy's “combination {hairbrush” will figure in the series. Lubitsch to Direét Pola, Brnest Lubitsch, who made {Negri famous with “Passion, zain direct the Polish sta Negri, now completing ) | Dimitri Butchowetski, will make one jmore Butchowetski film. “A Woman Jf the Night.” and then Mr. Lubitsch jwill direct her in a play not yet named. | mining and will. receive & per cent i Pola Miss Hollywood after completing “lee- lhound in New York." He will begi work at once on “The Inside Stor {an original by Clara Beranger. Jack Holt, Kathlyn William {Béery and the company that k; making anderer of the Land,” under Irving Willat's tion, have returned from five weeks on the Arizona desert, Victor Fleming has begun “Code of the w! 'h will co-star |Rod La Rogue and Jacqueline Logan. Edmund Mortimer will direct Shir- ’]" Mason in “A Strange Woman, the first of @_series of six picture Tied for by her new contract with ox. Theodore Von Eltz will be her leading mar - Mildred _ Harric s rpheum circuit tour. o l';arr) Rapft has left ‘Warner Brothers, having completed “Broa way After Dark” for that firm. Erich von Stroheim has hl?fl suit for $50,000 against Miss George: Lewys, 4 writer. who has published novel called “Merry Go Round.” He says he ga nario of his |2na, discussed cpening an photoplay of that name the advisability of novelizing it. Then, he charges, she copyrighted his manuscript. He also seeks an injunction to prevent fur- ther printing or circulation of the novel published by the young woman.. Chaplin Signs Leading Woman. Hollywood has known for some time i ilin has been seeking a that Charlie Cha s | ne ding woman. Now the suspense Kenton is writing the | willl William De Mille has returned to; filming | her a_copy of the sce-| has been broken with the announcement that the prince of comedians has nego- tiated a contract for the services of Lita Gra; a _nineteel r-old brunette of unusual beauty. She is a'descendant of an old Spanish family of California, and was chosen by Chap'in after screen tests had been made of many prospects. Miss Gray, however, is not without screen ex- perience, for she had a small part i “The Kid,” which Chaplin produced sev- | eral, years ago. _May McAvoy has arrived from New York, where she played opposite Rich- ard Barthelmess in “The Enchanted Cottage.” Her contract with Inspiration Pictures having expired, Miss McAvoy will free-lance indefinitely, beginning work at once with Paramount, for whom she will p'ay the feminine lead in Wil- liam B. DeMille's “Inside Story.” Production has begun on Baby Pegey's second starring picture for Principai Pictures. The new feature will be called “He'en's Babies,” and is being directed by William A. Seiter, with Clara Bow, Gene Carpenter, Richard Tucker, Clah Adams, Bdwand Everett Horton an others in_the : starlet’s first picture for Principal Pictures, “Captain January,” is scheduled for an early re- lease. Frazer Opposite Negri. Louis B. Mayer has loaned Robert Frazer to Paramount. to play the imale lead opposite Pola Negri in her current production, “Men."” Stuart Hol has been signed by Goldwyn to enact the part of Aleo D'Urbeville, in Marshall Neilan's pro- duction of “Tess of the D'Urbevilles,” in_which Blanche Sweet is starred. Victor Seastrom’s next produetion v Gold will be “Tree of the arden” from an English play by Edward C. Booth. The adaptation is being made by Mr. Seastrom and Hjalmar Bermann, a Swedish writer. Upon the compietion of her work in Frank Lloyd’s “The Sea Hawk," Enid Bennett will play the feminin« lead udgmen which Fred Niklo will make from 4 scenario bP . Grrdiner Sullivan. Jack bert, one stars in the William Fox organisa- tion, has announced that he w make but one more picture under present contract, after which he in- tends free-lancing. Gilbert ave starred in “The Man Who ack,” which Emmett Fly make for Fox, but the part ack O'Brien, son of the i cisco chief of police. Dorothy Mack |aill is to play the leading womar of the popmmy What They Are Doing. Warner Oland has been signed tc play 2 Chinese part in “The Throw- ac Norma Talmadge has purchased the screen rights to the New York stage success, “The Ladies” This will be her second production for 1924. She is starting upon “The House o: Youth i ind Ly character actress « Yeaman Titus, of note, are sup- to be co by Lasky in Wildeat. Frances Marion has contracted tc anarize “Business Before Pleasure, cne of the Potash and Perlmutt stories, for Samuel Goldwyn. It wil be filmed as tash and Perlmutter in Hollywo William Farnum has signed a long- {term contract with _the Players-Lask: 'ompa rrive here from New York. rame of his first picture has not been nnounced, but it will be directed by Wallace Worsely, who directed “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” for {Universal. Mr. Farnum's contract | permits him to spend four months of {each year in New York on the stage. | Harold Lloyd's next picture will {deal with the first vear of married life of a romantic young couple. His i ear as the husband of Mildred tortnight tarred terminated only a Dorothy Phillips, widow of Allen the director, who died two ago. has returned to Holly- wood and will soon resume screen work. (Copyr'ght, 1924, [ Britan by Nor f Central Hig‘h Drama. HE airector of dramatics at the Central High School, Miss Sibyl Baker, recently announced that the costumes _for the spring play, “Tre- lawney of the Wells,” must b much carlier than usual this year. Miss Gribbs and Miss Merrill of the omestic art department, o tuaying the fashion books as- for some time, nowed of consternation. Why such a Hden and urgent demand for o { tumes three weeks befor: tie pla to be given? Miss Baker explained that owing to the fact that the modern young iady ‘i.‘: unaccustomed to passing through {a three-foot door in a dress five feet Wide, and that the modern young man does ot _fe shaking hanc ver several yards of billowly crino- Tine, it was found necessary to have | fehearsals in costume. Miss Griggs and Miss Merrill accepted ti lllfix- Tatum gracefully and by Mareh 21, i i | ready | who had | the dote of the first performance, Mjss Baker feels sure that the gentieme: will have ‘earned to “keep their di tance” and that the iadies will glide through doorways as gracefully a« the senoras in “Sancho Panza.” Much interest in_these newly ar- rived costumes has been evinced dur- inig the past few days on the part of °d to witness rehearsals. genuine gasp of su &roup of observ ous creations fo is a much b« s g bl d cambric and man. led in minutest detsi after the Victorian fashions of th early sixtics, the era of the hoop sKirc —top’ trousers. place at different . thers is necessa- in the costumes. all of which are being made in the domestic department of the | school. { the first time. ruffied whit i1k flow others—all my Violin an Inspiration. HE poet who said music hath Tcnums and a few other things knew what he was talking about, ac- ‘ording to Joseph Schildkraut. Young Schildkraut, whose fame in he movies and on the stage is well known, gives all credit for his success O otd violin which he constantly carries with him. The violin has no particular value, yet he has had it so long he prizes it more than were it 1 costly Strad. Whenever he feels blue he plays a sew strains; whenever an audience is cold or fails to accept his efforts he Fets out the instrument, and when he feads & new play he always pauses ‘ong enough between reading e ' Sang . ERETTA and musical comedy have been the chief field of my i stage work during my entire profes- sional career,” says Henry Coote. “I have played virtually every tenor role in all of the musical comedy \nd operetta productions of recent years at one time or another” con- tinued Coote. “I was in ‘The \Va‘!lz * ‘Chocolate Soldier,’ “The Lilac ::‘;:f:b,' P the. “Kirefly, 'Naugniy Mariette’ and “The Rose Maid.' I have Mayed at the Winter Garden and in he “Follies, and I have played 285 |act to dash off a little music, It is the violin, and nothing else, he says, that his kept his spirits up when it seemed as if all the world was against him! Despite his dignified and reserved manner, he likes to play jazz music best, but he will not admit it. Only his closest friends are given the priv- ilege of hearing him play “Yes, We No” and similar _melodies. n he thinks some one hears hini hes into heavy selections from ouldn’t take $10,000 for my vio- ," he suys. “It's probably wort! only $100, but to me it is priceless I carried it during all my tours in Europe, for it is my inspiration as well as my solace.” agcl Stuck to It. roles in operetta in stock, in virtuaily all the present and past Successes. “It was really by chance that I tooi up a stage career. I was singing i a church in Boston when Henry W. Savage heard me and offered me a position on the stage. At the time T did not intend to remajin on the stag: permanently. But I came of a theat- rical family, and 1 guess it was the line of least resistance for me to ye- main once I arrived. “I have been in this work almost without _any break since the timw Henry W. Savage offered me that finst job, while 1 was still at my own homo town of Springfield, Mass." WhatMakesStage Success? | FUORENCE REED, who has climbed to the pinnacle of glory in the past few years, has her own ‘lews as to what creates stage suc- ess. “Interpretative power.” she savs, is a gift. Actresses are seldom made. frue enough, managers have been tnown_to establish so-called stars, ut their pseudo-brilliance soan liminishes, The ‘real’ actress is the one who has a big personality—a Sod-given gift—together with ~ the iubsidiary supports that go to make iistinction. And fame, if it is won. is not acquired by looking pretty and thinking superficially, Work is the only route to success back of the tootlights. “The faithful actress is a student of human nature, a psychologist, and a visionary, all combined in one. She does not live a surface life. Her feel- ings, thoughts and acts are sincere, genuine and true. In many ways she is something of doctor-philoso- pher. She analyzes and treats. She must be a tnousand people in oneo material physical being. But her spiritual and emotional selves must _paramount. Feeling is her onc guide. And the personalily that can accomplish these triumphs is a per- sonality that can find success on stage.